Staple removing device



C. R. TAYLOR STAPLE REMOVING DEVICE March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheeti Filed Feb. 6, 1961 llll-llllllll l INVENTOR.

i ATTORNEY March 24, 1964 c. R. TAYLOR STAPLE REMOVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1961 CLARENCE R. TAYLOR INVENTQR. /Z QM ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,126,195 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 3,126,195 STAPLE REMOVHIG DEVICE Clarence R. Taylor, Rochester, N.Y. (23 Woodside Drive, Peniield, N.Y.) Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser- No. 87,175 13 Claims. (Cl. 254-28) This invention relates generally to ofiice equipment, and more specifically to an automatic staple-removing device, for removing metal staples from papers which have been stapled together.

All of the commercially available staple-removing devices that applicant is aware of are manually operated, and consequently a considerable need has existed for a reliable, fast, automatically operated staple-removing device. A well-known manually operated staple-removing device of the type referred to comprises a pair of pivotally movable arms having co-operating cam projections adapted to slide under the metal staple and cam the staple out of the papers when the arms, which are spring-biased apart from one another, are manually pressed together by the operator. Although this device is extremely simple in construction and operates satisfactorily, it nevertheless requires manual manipulation by the operator which is disadvantageous, particularly where a large number of staples must be removed. In addition, where a large number of staples must be removed over a considerable period of time, the operator becomes fatigued, particularly his arms and fingers. All of these disadvantages of the manually operated staple-remover are believed to be obviated by applicants automatic staple-removing device.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically removing metal paperstaples from papers which have been stapled together.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device adapted to quickly remove metal paper-staples from papers which have been stapled together with a minimum of efifort on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device that is simple to operate, and eliminates fatigue on the part of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device adapted to remove a predetermined number of staples from papers which have been stapled together faster than any prior known type of staple-removing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device that collects and holds the discarded staples.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device that is motor operated, and the operation of the motor is controlled by the insertion and removal of a paper from the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device adapted to be opened with facility for the removal of discarded staples, and for servicing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an automatic staple-removing device having a rotatable motor-driven staple removing member, a fixed stap1eremoving member, a pressure roller for urging the paper against the members for removal of a staple therefrom, and a rotatable motor-driven staple discarding element for taking the removed staple from the rotatable stapleremoving member and discarding it.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view substantially taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partially in section substantially taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the staple-removing device of this invention with the cover removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged segmental view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 2 showing the parts in a position about to remove a staple from the papers; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts a predetermined time later with the staple removed from the papers, and the staple-discarding element withdrawing the staple from a staple-removing member.

With particular reference to the drawings, the stapleremoving device 11 comprises a base plate 12 as seen best in FIG. 2 having a cup-shaped lower housing 13 secured thereto. An L-shaped support bracket 14 is mounted on housing 13, and has a rear upturned leg 15 whose end is turned to form a substantially cylindrical journal 16 for a shaft 17 extending therethrough. A pair of spacedapart side plates 18, 19 are rigidly secured to the ends of shaft 17, and side plates 18, 19 and shaft 17 are pivotal as a unit within journal 16 from a closed or operative position as seen in FIG. 2 in which foot portions 21 formed by plates 1%, 19 bear against support bracket 14, to an open or inoperative position as shown dotted in FIG. 2. A leaf spring 22 has one end secured to support bracket 14 by a screw 23 or the like, and a U-shaped yoke 24 is formed by its opposite end for rotatably supporting a pressure roller 25 formed of a resilient material such as rubber, and further preferably having a plurality of angularly spaced, axially extending peripheral grooves 26 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. Although grooves 26 are of a configuration as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, it should be obvious that other configurations are equally applicable such as a saw-tooth configuration, etc. A paper-guiding ramp 27 is formed by housing 13, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle a of approximately 30, as seen in FIG. 4 for a purpose to be explained in greater detail hereinafter. A microswitch 31 is mounted on bracket 14, and has a rotatable arm 28 extending therefrom passing through and supported by a lip 29 struck out from ramp 27 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The actuating element 32 of microswitch 31 is secured to arm 28 and extends through opening 33 as seen in FIG. 1 in ramp 27 formed by the struck-out lip 29, and extends above ramp 27 in position to be actuated by stapled papers 40 fed into device 11. The element 32 and arm 28 are adapted when turned in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 to close microswitch 31, and when turned in the opposite direction, to open it.

A staple-removing member 34 has stub shafts 25 rotatably mounted in bearings 36 carried by side plates 18, 19, and further has a plurality of axially spaced disks 37. Each disk 37 has a pair of diametrically opposed pointed claws 38 or staple-removing elements as seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5 formed by slots 39 cut therein. A block 41 is interposed between side plates 18, 19 and rigidly secured thereto, and has a plurality of projections 42 spaced between disks 37, the upper surfaces of which are a shorter radial distance from the center of disks 37 than its periphery, and further substantially conform to the configuration of the periphery of the disks. The upper surfaces 42 of projections 42 co-operate with claws 38 as seen dotted in FIG. 4 to remove a staple 43 from papers 40. Upon rotation of staple-removing member 34, at least one claw 38 is moved underneath staple 43 and urges it slidably along the upper surface 42' of projection 42 for removing the staple from the stapled papers 40. A staple 43' so being removed is shown dotted in FIG. 4. The lower surfaces are engaged by the papers 40 and serve as paper-supporting surfaces 41 for preventing papers 40 from being pulled up by claws 38. In addition, a pair of guide members 44 are secured to side plates 18, 19 by screws or the like for guiding the stapled papers 40 under projections 42, thereby preventing the leading end of papers 46 from striking the upper surfaces of projections 42 which would prevent insertion of the papers 40 into device 11. Another shaft 45 is rotatably mounted in bearings 46 carried by side plates 18, 19, and has a cylindrical member 47 secured thereto having a radially extending arm 48 forming spaced-apart fingers 49 at its end adapted to pass through the spaces between disks 37 upon rotation of shaft 45 and arm 43. The staple-removing element 34 and arm 48 are driven in timed relation by an electric motor 51 through a speed reduction unit 52 and gear train 53. The electric motor 51 and speed-reduction unit 52 are secured together, and the gear reduction unit 52 is secured to side plates 1%, 19 by screws 54 passing through cylindrical spacer elements 55. Units of this type are commercially available, and applicant has found that a unit adapted to provide a rotational speed at an output shaft 56 of 75 r.p.m. works very satisfactorily, although other speeds may be satisfactory and the applicant does not wish to be limited to that particular speed. The gear train 53 comprises a pair of gears 57, 58 of different diameter secured to output shaft 56, and gear 57 drives a gear 59 secured to shaft 45, and gear 58 is connected by an idler gear 61' loosely mounted on shaft 45 to a gear 62 secured to shaft 35. With this gear arrangement, the disks 37 and arm 48 are driven in opposite directions, the disks 37 in a counterclockwise direction and arm 48 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The pitch diameters of the gears, and the number of gear teeth are properly selected so that the speed of rotation of arm 48 is twice that of disks 37 so that the fingers 49 are in position to co-operate with the claws 38 and slots 39 for removing staples 43 from papers 40. A deflector plate 61 is interposed between side plates 18, 19 and is secured thereto by lugs 62 on the ends of deflector plate 61 extending into small openings 63 formed in side plates 18, 19. The deflector plate 61 has one end thereof adjacent the periphery of disks 37, and further extends generally upwardly and rearwardly to prevent the pas sage of any of the removed staples 43 to the front of device 11 where it may interfere with the operation of disks 3']. The plate 61 deflects any staples 43 thrown thereagainst back toward the rear of device 11 where they drop by gravity onto bracket 14. An upper housing member 64 is secured by any suitable means to side plates 18, 19 and co-operates with lower housing 24 to form a slot 65 therebetween at the front of device 11 through which the stapled papers 46 may be inserted into device 11 along the paper guiding member 27. The side plates have notches 66 therein to permit insertion of stapled papers 40 into device 11 a suflicient distance to position staples 43 under disks 37 for engagement by claws 38. The microswitch 31 is electrically connected in circuit with electric motor 51, and is adapted when element 32 and arm 28 are turned by the stapled papers 40 upon insertion thereof into device 11 to connect the power supply to motor 51 for operating same. When the actuating element 32 is released, the microswitch 31 automatically disconnects the power supply from motor 51.

In the operation of this invention, the operator initially introduces the leading edge of papers 40 from which a staple 43 is to be removed into slot 65 between the housings 13, and along paper-guiding member 27. The stapled papers 40 are introduced with staple 43 in alignment with disks 37 of device 11. As soon as papers 40 depress actuating element 32 of microswitch 31, the power is connected to motor 51 which drives disks 37 and arm 48. The leading edge of papers 40 strike pressure roller 25, and the grooves 26 therein and the angle of approach a" of papers 40 aids in directing the leading edge of the papers underneath the projections 42, and substantially eliminates any tendency for the leading edge of the papers 40 to catch on the points of the projections 42 and prevent insertion of the papers 40 into device 11. The pressure roller 25 further bears against disks 37 and projections 42 and urges stapled papers 40 thereagainst thereby urging staple 43 closer to the claws 38. If the papers 40 are properly positioned, at least one of the claws 38 will pass underneath staple 43, and upon further rotation of disks 37 will remove the staple from the papers which are held back by the lower surface of projections 42. The removed staple 43 falls into slot 39 adjacent claw 38 after disks 37 have rotated approximately as seen in FIG. 5, and upon further rotation of disks 37 and arm 48, the fingers 49 engage the removed staple, urge it out of slot 39 of disk 37 and eject it toward the rear of device 11 where it falls by gravity on bracket 14. To service device 11, or clean out the staples 43 that accumulate on bracket 14, the operator merely pivotally moves upper housing 24 and side plates 18, 19 as a unit into its open position where the parts are all readily accessible. If desired, the operator may first remove housing 64 from device 11.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected Within the spirit and scope of the invention, as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for removing staples from stapled papers fed therein, the combination comprising:

a rotatably mounted staple-removing member having a claw;

means for rotatably driving said staple-removing member;

a fixed member having an upper surface intersecting the path of rotation of said claw of said staple-removing member; and

means for urging stapled papers fed into said device against said members so that said claw upon rotation of said staple-removing member is moved underneath a staple of said stapled papers and urges said staple slidably along said upper surface for removing said staple from said stapled papers.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises a spring biased element urged against said members.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said element is resilient.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said resilient element comprises a rotatable cylinder.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said cylinder has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said fixed member comprises a block having a plurality of spaced apart sharp projections having an upper surface, and said rotatable staple-removing member comprises a plurality of spaced apart disks adapted to pass between said projections and having sharp claws adapted to cooperate with said upper surface of said projections for removing staples from stapled papers.

7. In a device for removing staples from stapled papers fed therein, the combination comprising:

a frame;

a staple-removing member rotatably supported by said frame and having a claw;

means for rotatably driving said staple-removing member;

a fixed member supported by said frame and having an upper surface intersecting the path of rotation of said claw of said staple-removing member;

means for guiding stapled papers into engagement with said staple-removing member as they are fed into said device;

means for urging said stapled papers against said members so that said claw upon rotation of said stapleremoving member is moved underneath a staple of said stapled papers and urges said staple slidably along said upper surface for removing said staple from said stapled papers; and

means cooperating with said members for discarding said removed staple.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said fixed member comprises a block having a plurality of spaced apart sharp projections, and said rotatable stapleremoving member comprises a plurality of spaced apart disks adapted to pass between said projections and having sharp claws adapted to co-operate with said projections for removing staples from stapled papers.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said guiding means comprises a ramp inclined with respect to the horizontal.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said urging means comprises a spring biased rotatable cylinder.

11. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said discarding means comprises a rotatable element having spaced apart fingers adapted to pass between a portion of said disks and rotatable in timed relation thereto for taking said staples from said claws and discarding them.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein a deflector plate is supported by said frame adjacent said rotatable member for preventing said fingers from discarding said removed staples on said members.

13. The invention according to claim 7 and further including a pivot about which said frame is pivotally movable with respect to said urging means between an operative position in which said members are movable into engagement with said urging means for removing staples, and an inoperative position in which said members are withdrawn from said urging means for servicing and the removal of staples therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,592 Parker Jan. 19, 1926 1,789,256 Rogers Jan. 13, 1931 2,206,253 Grifiin July 2, 1940 2,446,741 Chidakel Aug. 10, 1948 2,522,769 Anderson Sept. 19, 1950 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR REMOVING STAPLES FROM STAPLED PAPERS FED THEREIN, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A ROTATABLY MOUNTED STAPLE-REMOVING MEMBER HAVING A CLAW; MEANS FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID STAPLE-REMOVING MEMBER; A FIXED MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE INTERSECTING THE PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID CLAW OF SAID STAPLE-REMOVING MEMBER; AND 